Poland will close all border crossings with Belarus from midnight on Thursday, a move Prime Minister Donald Tusk said was necessary for national security amid heightened regional tensions. The shutdown, which includes railway crossings, will come into effect overnight from Thursday to Friday, according to the Polish Press Agency. The decision marks a significant escalation in Poland’s stance toward its eastern neighbour, particularly as Belarus conducts joint military exercises with Russia under the Zapad-2025 drills.
Belarus responded swiftly, lodging a formal protest through its Foreign Ministry and summoning Poland’s charge d’affaires in Minsk, Krzysztof Ozanna. Minsk described the border closure as a unilateral and unjustified step, warning that it would disrupt the flow of people and goods across the entire EU-Belarus border. The move underscores the deteriorating ties between the two neighbours at a time when wider security concerns are reshaping Europe’s eastern flank.
The announcement also coincides with increased US engagement with Poland. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump pledged to maintain, and potentially increase, the number of American troops stationed in Poland. Speaking at a White House meeting with Poland’s newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, Trump declared, “We’ll put more there if they want,” signalling Washington’s firm support for Poland as a NATO frontline state. Nawrocki, in turn, thanked the US for its continued military and political cooperation, calling the relationship vital for his country.
Poland’s strengthening defence posture has been backed by Washington in other areas as well. In August, the US State Department approved a $1.85 billion package to support Poland’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets. The deal, which covers maintenance, logistics, and operational support, will be managed by General Electric Aerospace. The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the sale aligns with US foreign policy objectives by boosting the security of a NATO ally seen as key to stability in Europe.
For Warsaw, the closure of the Belarus border is both a symbolic and practical step. It aims to underline Poland’s determination to guard against security risks arising from its eastern frontier while sending a message to Moscow and Minsk. For Belarus, the closure is a sharp economic and political setback, limiting cross-border movement and raising new barriers between the EU and its eastern neighbour. The measure, combined with heightened NATO activity in the region, is likely to deepen existing divides and further test the already strained balance of regional security.
